Ladies Euro 2025: Girelli Brace fires Italy in the past Norway and in semi -final

Cristiana Girelli shot Italy on Wednesday in the semi-final of Ladies Euro 2025 with a brace, including a final winner, in the historic 2-1 triumph of the Azzurre over Norway.

Italy will play the last four title defender England or Sweden next Tuesday after Girelli had led the decisive goal in Geneva in the last minute from the cross of Sofia Cantore.

The Italians had not reached the last four of the euros since they lost the final of Germany in 1997, and will be a tough note to crack after seeing Norway, which has two of the biggest stars of the women’s game in Ada Hegerberg and Caroline Graham Hansen.

«Cantore gave me an incredible ball for the second goal. She looked up, saw where I was and just put it on my head, so it was easy for me to put it in the goal,» Girelli said.

«I didn’t realize how close to the end of the game was … I still can’t believe it, to tell you the truth, I can’t believe it, it’s just beautiful.»

Hegerberg, who also missed a penalty, scored for the Norwegians in the 66th minute after Girelli opened the score five minutes after the break.

Juventus Vooruit Girelli has now scored 61 times for her country, with the double of Wednesday probably the most important goals of her career.

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She is also the oldest woman who scores more than once in a ladies -euros at the age of 35 and 84 days.

The Norwegians were pioneers of modern women’s football and the first country to win the World Cup, the European Championship and the Olympic Games, but have been left behind since he triumphed during the Sydney matches.

Now managed by Gemma Grainger, Norway has not reached the semi -final of a large tournament since he lost the final of the Euro 2013.

Italy was the better side for large chunks of the game, but continued to waste the chances just as it did while he qualified from group B behind Spain.

Arianna Caruso was the first to fluff her lines in the ninth minute when she accelerated a great opportunity wide after she had bundled in the penalty area.

Girelli did not stop Emma Severini in the 20th minute to go home the inviting cross of Barbara BonanSea by challenging the same ball, although she had little chance of making an attempt on Target.

And a little later Severini hit a weak shot at the goalkeeper Cecilie Fiskerstrand in Norway after he was sent clean by Caruso’s excellent first pass.

Hegerberg almost made Italy pay in the 37th minute when Thea Bjelde’s bent Lage Cross hit her thigh and dripped wide for an open goal.

Girelli finally gave Italy their deserved lead by poring home Cantore’s Mishit shot, but after it seemed to wake Norway, and as she did in their first group A match against Switzerland, Hegerberg both won and then shot a penalty.

The former Ballon d’Or winner made up for her terrible mistake six minutes later when she came hesitantly Laura Giuliani’s hesitant to pound the level home.

Both teams were exchanging from that moment, but it seemed that extra time was nailed until Girelli hit the last, perfectly conductive home cantore’s of Cantore and Italy gave a date with one of the tournament favorites in the next round.